Combined groundworking and pulverizing machine



' Aug. 21, 1928. I 1,681,835

L. BIRD COMBINED GROUNDWORKING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE Filed June 21,1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 VLKG 5572i Aug. 21, 1928,

L. BIRD COMBINED GROUNDWORKING AND. PULVERIZING MACHINE Filed June 21,1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 m h We L ee Bird Aug. 21, 1928. 1,681,835

L. BIRD COMBINED GROUNDWORKING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE Fi'le June 21,1927 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 fig .5.

gnue'nrnz Lee B 13rd MLQGQNW Aug. 21, 1928.

L. BIRD COMBINED GROUNDWORKING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE Filed June 211927 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fiee Bird Lurk 1% Lo Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

LEE BIRD, OF ROCK PATENT OFFICE.

SPRINGS, GEORGIA.

COMBINED GROUNDWORKING AND PULVERIZING MACHINE.

Application filed June 21,

This invention relates to combined spaders and pulverizers.

At the present time, it is common practice to first go over a field witha plow to over turn the F'Oll and later go over the field several timeswith some sort of harrow to break up the lumps to render the soil fitfor planting.

l have found that even after this treatment, the soil in some parts ofthe country will still not be finely pulverized.

The primary object of the present invention is the provision of a devicewhich will at the same time spade the earth and break up the lumps,thereby saving time in going over the field many times.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of animplement which will not only spade and pulverize the soil at the sameoperation but will also have a cutting action 011 clods, corn stubble,corn stalks and the like.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a spading tool whichwill enter the ground in such a way as to cut its way into the soilwithout any dislodgmentof the soil except for the thickness of the bladeand on its outward movement will take the soil which has been cut looseand move the same to the side without turning it bottom up as with theordinary plow and without throwing the particles upwardly as the toolleaves the ground.

I Another object of this invention is the provision of such a spader andpulverizer having a spade so shaped as to have a wiping action over eachslice of soil cut loose in such a way as to have two edges coming to apoint. pressing against the slice. the point pressing hardest, thusthoroughly breaking the soil up in the wake of this wiping edge.

A further object of this invention is the provision of an improved spadecarrying device tor the spader and pulverizer.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a groundworking implement having a plurality of drums carrying ground engagingtools with means for maintaining the axes of the drum in the same plane,regardless of the undulating character or the ground.

I it till further object of my invention is the provision or a groundworking implement havinga plurality of drums carrying ground engagingtools, means tor angling the drums 1927. Serial No. 200,490.

and means for maintaining the axle in a predetermined relation to theframe.

A. still further object of my invention is the provision of a frame fora ground working implement having drums for carrying ground engagingtools, a frame for the machine. means for angling the drums and meansfor guiding the drums including an arcuate guide means.

A still further object or" my invention is the provision or a frame fora ground working implement having rotating angling drums :vi 11g earthengaging elements, the drums 11g separate mountings for the bearings torthe rotary movement and the angling novcment.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a drum for aground working implement having ground engaging tools on the drum thesame means holding the drum together and holding the tools on the drum.

A. till further object of my invention is the provision of an improvedtool for application to an angling rotating drum of a ground workingimplement, the tool having a sharpened curved edge for cutting into theground during the entering operation; a point at the other end of theouter edge; the outer edge ie ng at one side of the perpendicular to theaxis which passes through the support portion the line passing outwardlythrough the support and midway between the forward and rear edges havinga rearward trend.

Referringto the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my invention showingthe drums in transport or road position.

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a side view.

Fig. iis a sectional view on the line l-l of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the drum guide and position retaining member.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are detail views of parts of the construction.

Like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughoutthe several vie s or" the drawing.

The numeral 20 designates the draft device of the implement which isattached at the forward end of the frame. lhe "frame comprises acentrally extending member Eli and two laterally extending members andBetween the members 21 and 22 and between the members 21 and 23 are twobrace iii) members 24 and 25 respectively. The outer portions of theside members 22 and 23 are bent inwardly at a position parallel to eachother and are attached respectively to the bearing members 26 and 27which form portions of the mountings for the outer ends of the drums tobe described. The rear portion of the frame member 21 is secured to amember 28, presently to be described; this member being shown in Fig. 5.Secured to the bearing members 26 and 27 are upright portions 29 and 30of a frame 31. At the center ofthe frame 31 is the vertical frameportion which connects to the member 28 to be described.

As above described the members 21, 22, 23, 2 t, 25, 26, 27, 23, 29, '331 and 32 form a rigid frame for holding in position the drums withtheir ground engaging members to be described.

The drums are supported upon shafts 33 and 34:. These shafts rotaterespectively in outer bearing members 35 and 36. The bearing members and36 are provided with integral upwardly extending stub shafts or spindles37 and 38. These stub shafts 3'7 and 38 are provided with openingstransverse of their axes for the reception of cotter pins 39 and 40. Asshown in Fig. 3, a washer 411 may be provided between the cotter pin andthe bearing members 26 and 27.

p The members 26, 27, 35, 36, 3'7, 38, form together the mountings forthe outer ends of the drums to be described.

It will be noted that the upright spindles or stub shafts 37 and 33 arevertical and thus permit of the swinging of the shafts 33 and 3t aboutthe axes of the spindles 37 and 38 respectively.

The inner ends of the drum shafts are mounted in special mountings whichI have designated generally by the numerals 42 and 4:3. The mountingsare provided with bearings for the ends of the shafts 33 and 3%respectively and are provided for co-action with the sides of the member28' to prevent endwise movement of the shafts 33 and 34 inwardly.

Each shaft 33, 34 is provided with two bearing surfaces in therespective mountings 4-2 and Shoulders l i and 45 are provided on theshafts 33 and 34 respectively. These shoulders i t and 45 engagecorresponding surfaces of thrust busl'iings 46 andl7 respectively.Between the thrust bushings l6 and 47 of the respective mounting members42 and 43 are provided ball thrust or other suitable bearing memberswhich provide for the easy operation of the shafts 33, 3% when thelatter are under pressure to be fore-ed inwardly as when the device isin operation witl'i drums angled. The members 42 and T3 are constructedin the shape of housings.

These housings 9 and43 entirely inclose t bushings $16 and A? and thethrust bearings s8 and 4L9 respectively. The thrust the th. L

bushings 46 and 47 are provided with suit-- able set screws as at 50.These hold the bushings in place with relation to the shafts 33 and Theopenings for the thrust bushings 48 and i7 and the thrust bearings 48and 49 are just sutlicient to permit free movement of the bushings andbearings without binding action.

In assembling the parts at this point, the thrust bushings l6 and 47 areplaced in the housings respectively and the shafts 33 and 34.- areinserted and passed through the bushings and the bearings. The setscrews, as for example set screw 50, are then tightened and no axialmovement between the shaft and its bearing and the thrust bearings willbe possible. In order to close the opening at the top of the housingandthrough which the thrust bushings l6 and 47 and bearings 48 and 49were inserted, I provide a housing cover which I have designated on Fig.7 as at 51. These covers 51 completely close the openings in thehousings 42 and 43 and provide for the reception of oil or otherlubricant and to prevent the admission of dirt or other foreign matter.These housing covers 51 are provided with holes through which may beinserted bolts 52 to hold the housing covers in proper position.

The member 28 is provided with arcuate portions 53 which are arranged atopposite sides and which constitute guide members for the mountings i2and 43. These arcuate portions each have a curved e lge which is a partof a circle whose radius is equal to the distance from the guide to theaxes of the mounting of the bearing members 35 and 36. Connecting themountings 42 and 43' respectively, with the mountings 35 and 36 areU-shaped members 53 and 54. The bearin member 35, the U-shaped member53, and the mounting 42 form the pivoted frame of one drum while thebearing member 36, the U-chaped member 54, and the mounting 43constitute the frame ofthe other drum.

In the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, I haveshown a means for angling the drums simultaneously. This device is shownin Figs. 1, 3 and 8. At the forward end of the mountings 42 and 43, Thave placed a bolt, illustrated particularly in Fig. 8. This bolt 55passes through the mounting 43 and also passes through a bushing 56which contacts with an opening 57 in aflat operating rod 58 at its rearend. The forward ends of the rods 58 are secured at 59 to a long nut 60which is threaded on the threaded shaft 61.

At the forward end of the'frame members 22 and 23 is mounted a support62 at the upper end of which is pivoted a sleeve 63 to oscillate in avertical plane. This sleeve 63 is provided with an opening of a size toreceive the shaft 61 which is journaled therein. Collars 6e and 65 arepinned to the shaft 61 on till opposite sides of the sleeve 63 toprevent endwise movement of the shaft 61 due to thrust forces. A handwheel 66 is provided on the end of the shaft 61 to turn the same tooperate the long nut which is threaded at the lower end of the shaft(51. It is to be understood that the bolt 55 is provided with the washer55 and the nut 55 to retain the bushing 56 in its proper place.

IVhen transporting this implement from one place to another it is to beunderstood that the axes of the drums will be in common line and in thisposition the implement will roll over the ground without having theground working elements enter to a very great extent. When it is desiredto place the drums in working position it is only necessary to turn thewheel 66 so as to bring a compression in the bars58. This will force theinner ends of the drums to the rearward and the device is ready foroperation. If desired, the implement may be pulled forwardly which willgreatly lessen the manual labor necessary to turn the wheel 66. When thewheel 66 is turned to angle the drums, a thrust is created in the bars58. This causes the inner ends of the drums to move to the rear, themountings iii-and it moving along the areuate edges 67 and 68 of themember 28. These arcuate edges 67 and 68 are formed having the shape ofa portion of a circle having a radius equal to the distance betweenthese arcuate edges and the respective centers of the spindles 37 and38.

Vhen it is desired to bring the drums from working position to transportposition as shown in Fig. 1, it is only necessary to turn the hand wheel66 in the opposite direction. This results in placing the bars 58 undertension and draws the mountings 13 and 44 forwardly to bring the axes ofthe drums in a common line.

The construction of the drums themselves is shown very well in Fig. 1.In the construction illustrated, there are three wheels which areidentical and which I have designated as 69. These wheels are eachprovided with twenty flat spaces, equally distributed about .theirperiphery. These wheels when mounted upon their respective shafts formthe support for a continuous series of slats or bars 70. There is oneslat or bar 70 for contact with each flat space about the circumferenceof the wheels 69. The bars 70 are each provided with six openings toregister with corresponding openings in the wheels 69.

The ground engaging devices 71 are provided with shanks 7 2 which shanksare in turn provided with openings there through for the admission ofsuitable wedges 73. The shanks 72 are put through the openings in thebar 70 and the wheel 69, and when the wedges 73 are in place, the wholestructure is rigid.

In operation, I have found that the utilization of three of theseopenings in each bar 7 O for the attachment of the soil engagingelements 31 is sufficient to perform the desired function of themachine. I find that by arranging the soil working elements 71 of onerow so that the adjacent rows, in each case,

will be in echelon, the best results are obtained.

WVhen the soil working elements 71 are arranged in this way, it will beseen that with the drums angled, a spiral effect is obtained so that thesoil w rking elements engage the ground almost in a straight line, dueto the spiral arrangement. The exact desired order of sequence in groundengagement can be controlled by the degree of angling as I have deeribedfor the operation of the hand wheel 66.

I have found, in practice, that this alternate arrangement is veryetlieient, particularly with the soil working element of the shape to bepresently described.

In Figs. 9 and 10, I have illustrated the particular shape of the soilworking element. On Fig. 9, the fiat portion 7% is sharpened from aboutthe point A on the forward edge outwardly and along the outer edge tothe point B. In addition to this, the meeting point C of the outer edgeof the soil working element 71 is rounded. This has been found to be animportant feature in that this sharp edge facilitates the cutting of theground as the soil working element enters and as it leaves the surfaceof the ground near the end of the outward movement. This shape of bladepermits the leaving of the surface of the ground without throwing uplumps.

Assuming the drums to be angled. it will. be observed that the soilworking elements 71 are in such a position that they will pointsubstantially in the direction of the line of travel of the implement.As the rotation progresses, the sharp edge AC will enter the ground,followed by the whole body of the soil working element 71. This actiondisplaces very little of the soil. During the outward movement, theaction is quite different. The angular position of the soil element isnow accentuated and the forward movement of the drum in its angledposition causes a sidewise movementof the soil held by the particularsoil working element 71. As the soil working element 71 begins to leavethe surface of the ground, the sharp forward edge A-CB permits the: sameto easily leave with the rearward point B continually moving to the sideat an increasingly greater speed.

The result of this action has been found in actual practice to be thatthe ground is thoroughly shattered without turning the same upside downas is done in the case of a plow of'the ordinary type. It has been foundthat soil which was baked hard in the sun could be thoroughly broken upso that there would be no lumps, while at the same time the undesirableaction of turning the I soil is spaded with a hand spade and then thespade forcibly drawn across the slice while at the same time greaterpressure is used with the point than with the upper part of the spade.

7 During adjustment of the drums forwardly and rearwardly, as abovedescribed, and during the travel over undulating ground; it is necessaryto have means to prevent the inner ends of the drums from movingupwardly or downwardly due to a differ nce in level of the ground. Tomeetthis condition, I have provided a pad member 75 on the mounting 42and a similar pad 76 on the mounting 43. These pads 75,76 rest upon thetops, respectively of the arcuate portions 67 and 68 of the member 28.To prevent upward movement of the mountings 42 and 43, I provideextensions from the mountings 42 and 48 which I have designated 77 and78.

I These extensions extend under the arcuate portions 67 and 68in such away that a portion of the arcuate portion 67 and 68 overlaps and has alock engagement with the portions 77 and 78 of the mounting 42 and 43respectively. This is clearly shown on Fig. 7. It is also shown clearlyin this View, that the mountings 42 and 43 are in contact with the outersurfaces of the arcuate portions 67 and 68. From this description it isclear that the mountings 42 and 43 may swing with the axles 38 and 34respectively in an are about the extensions 37 and 88, but the mountingscannot move in any direction except along the arcuate members 67, 68. Inthis manner the shafts are always kept in the plane which is determinedby the arcuate members 67, 68 and the members 35 and 36 which carry theshafts 83 and 34. Any tendency of the drums to move the shafts 83 and 34out of this relation will simply bring pres sure on the member 32 andthe frame 81 without causing any movement as a result of this pressure.I

In order to provide a combined cleaning and cutting device for cuttingup clods, corn stalks, or other large piece-s which may be met in thefield, I have provided angularly positioned channeled members 79. Thechannel bars 7 9 are secured tothe U-shaped members 63 in any suitablemanner as by riveting or welding. The forward ends of the channelmembers 79 are of such a shape that the clods, corn stalks. etc. whichare brought out of the ground, will be out between the blades 71 and thechannel members 7 9. These channel members 79 are so placed at an anglethat they will follow the curvature of the ground engaging members 71and will come close to, but not in touch with the bars of the drums.

WVhen the clods, corn stalks, etc. are picked up by the ground engagingdevices 71, they will be drawn or broken in pieces between the groundengaging members 71 and the channel members 79.

lVhile I have shown and described, indetail, an embodiment of myinvention, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself tothe exact showing and that modifications and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention and within the scope of theappended claims.

I-Iaving described my invention what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent 1s 1. In an implement having a rolling drum and means forholding the drum in angled position relative to the line of draft,ground working devices secured to the periphery of the drum and havingsharp forward'and outer edges to effect a cutting action when enteringthe ground, the working surface ofv the ground working devices extendingsubstantially radially where they adjoin the surface of the drum andbeing curved at their outer ends toward the forward end of the axis ofthe drum.

2. In an implement having a rolling drum and means for holding the drumin angled position relative to the line of draft, ground working dcvicessecured to the periphery of the drum, the working faces of the groundworking devices having a substantial width and radial height, the outerends curving toward the forward end of the drum and being secured to theperiphery of the drum in substantially -circular rows, the adjacentdevices in adjacent rows being arranged in offset echelon relation.

3. In an implement having a rollingdriun and means for holding the drumin angled position relative to the line of'draft, ground working devicessecured to the periphery of the drum and having sharp forward and outeredges to effect a cutting action when entering the ground, the workingsurface of the ground working devices extending substantially radiallywhere they adjoin the surface of the drum and being bent at their outerends toward the forward end of the axis of the drum, a line drawn midwaybetween the front and rear edges of the ground working devices making acurve from adjacent the drum, rearwardly to the outer edge.

4. In an implement having a rolling drum and means for holding the drumin angled position relative to the line of draft, ground working devicessecured to the periphery of the drum, theworking faces of the groundworking devices having a substantialwidth and radial depth, the groundworking devices being secured-to the periphery of the drum insubstantially circular rows, the adjacent devices in adjacent rows beingarranged in offset echelon relation, the working surface of the groundworking devices extending substantially radially where they adjoin thesurface of the drum and being bent at their outer ends toward theforward end of the axis of the drum.

5. In an implement having a rolling drum and means for holding the drumin angled position relative to the line of draft, ground working devicessecured to the periphery of the drum and having sharp forward and outeredges to effect a cutting action when entering the ground, the junctureof the forward and outer edges being rounded and sharp, the workingsurface of the ground working devices extending substantially radiallywhere they adjoin the surface of the drum and being curved at theirouter ends toward the forward end of the axis of the drum.

6. In an implement having rolling drums and means for simultaneouslyholding the drums in opposed angled positions relative to the line ofdraft, ground working devices secured to the respective peripheries ofthe drums and having sharp forward and outer edges to effect a-cuttingaction when entering the ground, the working surfaces of the groundworking devices extending substantially radially where they adjoin thesurfaces of the respective drums and being curved at their outer endstoward the forward end of the axis of the drum to which they areattached.

7. In an implement having rolling drums and means for simultaneouslyholding the drums in opposed angled positions relative to the line ofdraft, ground working devices secured to the periphery of each drum, theworking faces of the ground working devices having a substantial. widthand radial height, the outer ends of the ground working devices curvingtoward the forward end of the axis of the respective drums to whichattached.

8. In an implement having a rolling drum and means for holding the drumin angled position relative to the line of draft, ground working devicessecured to the periphery of the drum and having sharp forward andouteredges to effect a cutting action when entering the ground, the workingsurface of the ground working devices extending substantially radiallywhere they adjoin the surface of the drum and being curved at theirouter ends toward the forward end of the axis of the drum, and meansheld between the paths of the ground working devices to prevent dirtfrom clogging the action of the ground working devices.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature.

LEE BIRD.

